“Our response to the challenges posed by contemporary migration can be summed up in four verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate,” states Pope Francis in his Message for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, celebrated on Sunday 25 August 2019. This takes place during Migrant and Refugee Week, marked by the Catholic Church in Australia from 19 - 25 August. The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office has released a comprehensive resource kit for Migrant and Refugee Week.

Save the date for our 'Care for our Common Home' (Laudato Si) Parish Forum to be held at St Ambrose’s Centre, Brunswick on Saturday 14 September. Taking place in the 'Season of Creation', this forum is part of our ongoing series to assist parish communities to respond to Pope Francis' call to take better care of our common home and the poor. 

We are in the midst of NAIDOC Week, 7 - 14 July, with celebrations being held across Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has released an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday 2019 Pastoral Letter.

Sixty-five people from parishes across the Diocese of Sandhurst gathered at St Brendan’s parish centre in Shepparton to discuss and share ideas about what could be done to alleviate homelessness in the region. The forum, auspiced by CatholicCare Sandhurst, Catholic Social Services Victoria, and the diocese of Sandhurst, resulted in each participating parish adopting a plan to deepen their contribution to addressing homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing.